I have seedlings of this rare palm,and I want to know how it grows for you? Kind of soil, water,cold hardiness>..

Thanks!!

Not sure about that spelling, but I had a couple of these from Floribunda - Basselinia tomentosa. Very small, slender seedling. Combined with a slow growth rate, meant they had little chance in my greenhouse. One of the more expensive seedlings, too. Sorry I can't add much more, other than this blurry photo!

Good luck my friend. I have lost many! In fact the last round of 10 I bought from Floribunda will be my last. My final round is almost 30% perilite, 30% pumice, and 40% light soilmix. Plus some lime. I have found they must be warm in winter - with little watering, and cool in summer - never being dried out. They do well in summer, but winters are a death sentence for me. I have since started to use Cleary's and Subdue every 30 days. I have found there to be two types of NewCal plants. Those that prefer to live and those that prefer to die. This is certainly a "prefers to die" NewCal plant.

Totally agree Len. I have lost many seedlings of this species...they get to about 3 or 4 leaflets, then die for no apparent reason. One batch died due to heat, but others just gave up...there must be a trick to it, as many growers I know have had the same trouble. Are there any larger plants in cultivation? If so, what is the secret????

Daryl

They germinate easily enough but it would be kinder if they didn't!

This bothered me enough that I dug thru some old photos I had to see/show the size I had that expired. If I had known they "went" so easy, I would have taken better pix!

Sorry, you'll have to enlarge and zoom. The 1 gal pot on the floor was definately good size. I know I had another at least as big back in there somewhere. The "smallest" liner was the "survivor" that got planted out, but was too small and 1 leaf to have a go.

OK! I had to at least show the "post weeding" pic of the above shots!!! (But its harder to pick out the tomentosa's. )

Oh yes, pix taken mid June 2008

I've had no luck with these either. Had one that grew well for 9 months or so and then just died. It was on it's 4-6th leaf or so. I've never seen one of any size in cultivation, and they have been available several times.

Matt

I knew at the time that I purchased the seed that this one was a tough grow but I told myself that if one survived it would be worth it. I only got about 50% germination and out of those more than a year later I only have about a dozen plants. I planted the biggest one a 5 leafer a couple of weeks ago and so far so good and it is pushing a spear. I think I will plant a couple more in hopes that one will make it. These plants overwintered in my unheated shadehouse on the lower shelf. They basically did nothing all winter but about 1 month ago they resumed their normal growth. I believe they will have a better shot at making it in the ground than in the pots. I will keep my fingers crossed and keep you guys updated.

Stevo

I knew at the time that I purchased the seed that this one was a tough grow but I told myself that if one survived it would be worth it. I only got about 50% germination and out of those more than a year later I only have about a dozen plants. I planted the biggest one a 5 leafer a couple of weeks ago and so far so good and it is pushing a spear. I think I will plant a couple more in hopes that one will make it. These plants overwintered in my unheated shadehouse on the lower shelf. They basically did nothing all winter but about 1 month ago they resumed their normal growth. I believe they will have a better shot at making it in the ground than in the pots. I will keep my fingers crossed and keep you guys updated.

Stevo

I habitat they grow on very special kinds of soil,so what kind of soil you grow them in?

I knew at the time that I purchased the seed that this one was a tough grow but I told myself that if one survived it would be worth it. I only got about 50% germination and out of those more than a year later I only have about a dozen plants. I planted the biggest one a 5 leafer a couple of weeks ago and so far so good and it is pushing a spear. I think I will plant a couple more in hopes that one will make it. These plants overwintered in my unheated shadehouse on the lower shelf. They basically did nothing all winter but about 1 month ago they resumed their normal growth. I believe they will have a better shot at making it in the ground than in the pots. I will keep my fingers crossed and keep you guys updated.

Stevo

I habitat they grow on very special kinds of soil,so what kind of soil you grow them in?

Alberto, Nothing special. I just planted it in my potting mix (peat moss, fir bark pumice). I believe they do not like hot tempatures but prefer a cool but frost free microclimate. I lost most of my seedlings in the summer. My front yard where I planted it faces north and I have many New Caledonia palms planted there. It even stays cool in the summer. I have started planting some stuff very small now with great results. I planted my Mad Fox and Basselinia Pancheri both as 4" plants and both are good size 1 gal. plants now. I just planted a 4" Cyphosperma Balansae as well.

Stevo

I knew at the time that I purchased the seed that this one was a tough grow but I told myself that if one survived it would be worth it. I only got about 50% germination and out of those more than a year later I only have about a dozen plants. I planted the biggest one a 5 leafer a couple of weeks ago and so far so good and it is pushing a spear. I think I will plant a couple more in hopes that one will make it. These plants overwintered in my unheated shadehouse on the lower shelf. They basically did nothing all winter but about 1 month ago they resumed their normal growth. I believe they will have a better shot at making it in the ground than in the pots. I will keep my fingers crossed and keep you guys updated.

Stevo

I habitat they grow on very special kinds of soil,so what kind of soil you grow them in?

Alberto, Nothing special. I just planted it in my potting mix (peat moss, fir bark pumice). I believe they do not like hot tempatures but prefer a cool but frost free microclimate. I lost most of my seedlings in the summer. My front yard where I planted it faces north and I have many New Caledonia palms planted there. It even stays cool in the summer. I have started planting some stuff very small now with great results. I planted my Mad Fox and Basselinia Pancheri both as 4" plants and both are good size 1 gal. plants now. I just planted a 4" Cyphosperma Balansae as well.

Stevo

OK! Thanks!

I wonder how many of these palms which easily germinate then get to a certain stage and commit suicide are lacking a root miccorhyza. This would be hard to simulate in a sterile medium such as the mixes we use for germination, and many species of plants have specific miccorhyzas they'll use unique to themselves. I wonder if in New Caledonia whether these are hard to establish. I wonder what would happen if you added some well aged rotted leaf litter in the mix to see if by chance you could get some miccorhyzas happening. Of course you can't use any fungicide if you are trying that experiment.

Best regards

Tyrone

I wonder how many of these palms which easily germinate then get to a certain stage and commit suicide are lacking a root miccorhyza. This would be hard to simulate in a sterile medium such as the mixes we use for germination, and many species of plants have specific miccorhyzas they'll use unique to themselves. I wonder if in New Caledonia whether these are hard to establish. I wonder what would happen if you added some well aged rotted leaf litter in the mix to see if by chance you could get some miccorhyzas happening. Of course you can't use any fungicide if you are trying that experiment.

Best regards

Tyrone

Why not just buy an inoculation of miccorhyzae? I'm sure that they are available. Or, maybe just mix in a little garden soil from around a plant that is doing particularly well? I have noticed that sometimes plants which are doing well in pots have threads or little dots of fungus growing in them. Perhaps next time I repot such a plant I will keep some of the mix and keep it going like one of those yeast cultures which have been maintained for many decades.

Well- I was able to locate one of the original batch I had. That means this little gem is about 3-4 years old and has spent the last 2 winters outside?

I went ahead and planted it right away. Wish me luck.

Now. As to how wise I was to dig up this Dypsis basilonga to put the tomentosa in its spot??? Thats a different story. I have a little larger one I hope to plant this weekend.

That is a good sized one to plant out Bill. Mine is 1/2 size I going in the ground.

I hope it does as well as my Cyphophoenix alba!

I just marked those 2 yesterday. The Basse pushed maybe 1mm in 24 hours, the Basilonga spear moved an 1/8 in the same period. The good news is the Basse looks like it has pushed a bit when I look at the "just planted" photo.

Cool palm:

If I'm lucky. When I retire.

OK! I had to at least show the "post weeding" pic of the above shots!!! (But its harder to pick out the tomentosa's. )

Oh yes, pix taken mid June 2008

That looks better Bill!

Regards

Stephen

Well, heres some good news. Its a bit blurry, but it is progress! Squint hard to see the mark moved after 2 days, its been in the ground almost a week? (You can see the ghosts of little palms passed in the background)

I have found that many of the slow-growing New Caledonian palms such as Basselina tomentosa are very fragile and unforgiving until they reach a large 1 gallon size in Hawai'i or a large 5 gallon size in California. They are particularly unforgiving of extreme temperatures, low humidity, poor water quality, harsh fertiliser, spider mites, mealy bugs, poor drainage, over-watering and under-watering. After saying all this I realise how depressing it sounds! Suffice it to say that most NC palms, outside of ideal places (such as 1000' on the Hilo side of the Big Island), these are the most challenging to grow, but also beautiful enough that the effort is worth it!

Cool palm:

Oooooh, would love one of these in my garden.

You can just see the latest spear starting to open on this..

Only 20 years and a LOT of luck to go...

Thanks Mod for correcting the title. It was a fine Elmur Fudd.

Thanks Mod for correcting the title. It was a fine Elmur Fudd.

What was corrected?????

As I recall, Alberto, it read Bassewlinia tomentosa. You have to get up early in the morning to catch me out.

As I recall, Alberto, it read Bassewlinia tomentosa. You have to get up early in the morning to catch me out.

Yep, it did. When I was searching to update this I didn't think it was the same one because I was looking for that "W"

As I recall, Alberto, it read Bassewlinia tomentosa. You have to get up early in the morning to catch me out.

Yep, it did. When I was searching to update this I didn't think it was the same one because I was looking for that "W"

Yes,or future searches,it´s better to correct typos. I didn´t notice the ´´W´´ when I posted it...

I made a search at Google to know who or what was Elmur Fudd. I saw a wabbit!

Still growing slowly a few weeks on.

Not sure how wise it was, but with paranoia from the last gopher attack, I thought I should somehow protect this thing. I dug it up and was setting it to the side when half the root ball popped off. I didn't see much roots anyway...

But its back in now and you can see the new spear pushing..

Heres the cage and heres to hoping I didn't do more damage than a gopher would..

Hhmm.... something to remember not to try, unless I have some spare time... Not that it is easy to find anyway

Regards, Ari

Alberto, for me they made a wonderful addition to my compost pile !! My longing for them is now cured.

Peachy

Well, the oldest leaf has died, but the new spear is pushing well. I hope it grows big like OX.

Any updates?

Mine has left the building...

Mine has left the building...

Oooh...sorry to hear.

I just ordered some seeds (B. pancheri). Thought I'd try my luck growing it as a potted palm.

Any updates?

I added some threads of fungus to the soil as contemplated and my last remaining seedling has staged somewhat of a recovery. It now sports nice dark green leaves though is still very small and may not survive if we have a cold winter.

My B.tomentosa seedlings are at the third litle bifid leaves and last freeze they were outside , below canopy. The min. temperature was -4.2 °C at the lowest part of my property (at grass level) and -3°C at 1.5m altitude not far from the house. Not sure how cold it was at soil level there,but water inside bromelias was frozen. All the seedlings are OK today.